The ‘Skunky’ Smell of Cannabis May Help Treat Fibromyalgia
/By Pat Anson
THC and CBD get all the attention, but there’s another compound in cannabis that could someday be harnessed to treat chronic pain: terpenes.
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give plants like lavender, sage and eucalyptus their distinctive smells. In cannabis, terpenes give the plant its “skunky” aroma.
Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences have identified four terpenes in cannabis sativa that may offer a new way to treat chronic pain: geraniol, linalool, beta-caryophyllene, and alpha-humulene.
In studies on laboratory mice modeled to simulate fibromyalgia and post-operative pain, all four compounds produced substantial pain-relieving effects. Geraniol delivered the strongest results, followed by linalool, beta-caryophyllene, and alpha-humulene.
The findings, published in Pharmacological Reports, builds on previous research at the U of A that showed the pain-relieving potential of cannabis terpenes in treating inflammation and chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.
“Our research is showing that terpenes are not a good option for reducing acute pain resulting from an injury, such as stubbing your toe or touching a hot stove; however, we are seeing significant reductions in pain when terpenes are used for chronic or pathological pain,” said John Streicher, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience in the U of A College of Medicine Pharmacology.
“This study was the first to investigate the impact of terpenes in preclinical models of fibromyalgia and post-operative pain and expand the scope of potential pain-relieving treatments using terpenes.”
Fibromyalgia is a poorly understood musculoskeletal disorder that causes widespread body aches, brain fog, chronic fatigue, and anxiety. There are only four FDA-approved drugs for fibromylagia, which many patients consider ineffective or have too many side effects..
“With fibromyalgia, there isn’t much understanding of what the pain state is, and there are not a lot of great options for treating it,” Streicher said. “Our findings show that terpenes may be a viable treatment option for fibromyalgia pain, which could potentially have a large impact and make a difference for an undertreated population.”
Post-surgical pain straddles the line between short-term acute pain and chronic pain that lasts at least 30 days. When poorly treated, post-operative pain can cause physiological changes that sensitizes the body’s pain signalling system and causes other side effects.
“Opioids do a good job controlling post-surgical pain, but they can cause constipation that can increase the chances of post-surgical complications such as adhesions,” Streicher said. “We are always looking for better options, and this study suggests that terpenes could be a novel therapeutic for post-operative pain.”
Terpenes are already used in essential oils to promote relaxation or reduce pain and inflammation. Scientists still have much to learn about their therapeutic benefits.
“Nature is incredible at making unique chemical structures, and many of these chemicals are unknowns when it comes to their abilities to aid in human health, diseases and disorders,” said said Todd Vanderah, PhD, director of the U of A’s Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction
“A great current example is medication semaglutide, sold under the brand name Ozempic, which has a chemical structure that was isolated not from a plant, but from an animal that is prevalent in the Southwest, the Gila monster. These discoveries from natural products through research such as Dr. Streicher’s can result in very useful medications.”
Terpenes derived from cannabis are an essential ingredient in Exilby, a cannabis extract developed by a German biopharmaceutical company. Exilby was recently approved by European regulators as a treatment for chronic low back pain. It has also been given a Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA, which will speed up its development and review in the U.S.
